Nevada regulators approve $7.8 million fine against Caesars over illegal bookmaker case

The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday approved a $7.8 million fine against Caesars Entertainment for allowing convicted illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer to gamble at its casinos for years without verifying his source of funds, marking the fifth-largest sanction ever imposed on a state licensee.

The commission voted 4-1 to accept a settlement in which Caesars neither admitted nor denied the allegations. Commissioner Rosa Solis-Rainey opposed the deal, arguing the penalty should have been higher and criticising the company for taking seven years to identify Bowyer’s activity.

The disciplinary action is the third this year tied to Bowyer. Resorts World Las Vegas and parent Genting Berhad were fined $10.5 million in March, while MGM Resorts International paid $8.5 million in April for separate violations involving other illegal bookmaking schemes.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Mike Dreitzer told commissioners the fine was set at roughly three times the amount Caesars won from Bowyer. “They are paying three times more than they won over the period,” he said.

Bowyer, currently serving a one-year sentence for bookmaking and money laundering, wagered and lost millions of dollars over 100 separate gambling days at Caesars properties between 2017 and 2024, according to regulators. Caesars designated him as “high risk” in 2019 but failed to confirm the source of his funds or match his play with legitimate income.

Appearing before commissioners, Caesars’ top executives issued public apologies. “The way our anti-money-laundering program operated in this instance was unacceptable… I sincerely apologize for our role in the Bowyer incident and the impact it had on the gaming industry,” Chairman Gary Carano said.

Chief executive Tom Reeg said: “My directive to our team is clear and I want to make sure that it’s clear to you and on the record, we never sacrifice compliance for revenue. There is no customer that’s worth illegitimate profits. We didn’t catch Bowyer and we should have full stop.” He also called the matter “a stain on the state.”

Commissioner George Markantonis said Bowyer had given the industry “a bruising” but expressed confidence that Caesars had since strengthened its anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer systems. The company agreed to enhanced controls at its Nevada hotels and tribal casino operations in California.

During the hearing, some commissioners mistakenly conflated Bowyer with bookmaker Wayne Nix, whose unrelated case led to an $8.5 million fine for MGM and the loss of then–MGM Grand president Scott Sibella’s gaming license.

Regulators also noted that, unlike Caesars, other casinos had profited from Bowyer’s gambling despite fines. Resorts World Las Vegas earned nearly $14 million in net profit after Bowyer and associate Damien LeForbes lost close to $24 million, even after paying a $10.5 million penalty. LeForbes is awaiting sentencing on bookmaking and money-laundering charges.

In a statement issued Nov. 14, Caesars said: “We take our compliance responsibilities seriously and are dedicated to continuously strengthening our practices to meet and exceed the highest standards.”